## Chapter 8. Methods(方法)
### Item 54: Return empty collections or arrays, not nulls(返回空集合或数组,而不是 null)
It is not uncommon to see methods that look something like this:
如下的方法很常见:
```
// Returns null to indicate an empty collection. Don't do this!
private final List<Cheese> cheesesInStock = ...;
/**
* @return a list containing all of the cheeses in the shop,
* or null if no cheeses are available for purchase.
*/
public List<Cheese> getCheeses() {
return cheesesInStock.isEmpty() ? null: new ArrayList<>(cheesesInStock);
}
```
There is no reason to special-case the situation where no cheeses are available for purchase. Doing so requires extra code in the client to handle the possibly null return value, for example:
没有理由对没有奶酪可供购买的情况进行特殊处理。如果这样做,在客户端需要额外的代码处理可能为空的返回值,例如:
```
List<Cheese> cheeses = shop.getCheeses();
if (cheeses != null && cheeses.contains(Cheese.STILTON))
System.out.println("Jolly good, just the thing.");
```
This sort of circumlocution is required in nearly every use of a method that returns null in place of an empty collection or array. It is error-prone, because the programmer writing the client might forget to write the special-case code to handle a null return. Such an error may go unnoticed for years because such methods usually return one or more objects. Also, returning null in place of an empty container complicates the implementation of the method returning the container.
在几乎每次使用返回 null 来代替空集合或数组的方法时,都需要使用这种权宜之计。它很容易出错,因为编写客户端的程序员可能忘记编写特殊情况的代码来处理 null 返回。这样的错误可能会被忽略多年,因为这样的方法通常返回一个或多个对象。此外,在空容器中返回 null 会使返回容器的方法的实现复杂化。
It is sometimes argued that a null return value is preferable to an empty collection or array because it avoids the expense of allocating the empty container. This argument fails on two counts. First, it is inadvisable to worry about performance at this level unless measurements have shown that the allocation in question is a real contributor to performance problems (Item 67). Second, it is possible to return empty collections and arrays without allocating them. Here is the typical code to return a possibly empty collection. Usually, this is all you need:
有时有人认为,空返回值比空集合或数组更可取,因为它避免了分配空容器的开销。这个论点有两点是不成立的。首先,在这个级别上担心性能是不明智的,除非分析表明这个方法正是造成性能问题的真正源头([Item-67](/Chapter-9/Chapter-9-Item-67-Optimize-judiciously.md))。第二,返回空集合和数组而不分配它们是可能的。下面是返回可能为空的集合的典型代码。通常,这就是你所需要的:
```
//The right way to return a possibly empty collection
public List<Cheese> getCheeses() {
return new ArrayList<>(cheesesInStock);
}
```
In the unlikely event that you have evidence suggesting that allocating empty collections is harming performance, you can avoid the allocations by returning the same immutable empty collection repeatedly, as immutable objects may be shared freely (Item 17). Here is the code to do it, using the Collections.emptyList method. If you were returning a set, you’d use Collections.emptySet; if you were returning a map, you’d use Collections.emptyMap. But remember, this is an optimization, and it’s seldom called for. If you think you need it, measure performance before and after, to ensure that it’s actually helping:
在不太可能的情况下,你有证据表明分配空集合会损害性能,你可以通过重复返回相同的不可变空集合来避免分配,因为不可变对象可以自由共享([Item-17](/Chapter-4/Chapter-4-Item-17-Minimize-mutability.md))。下面是使用 `Collections.emptyList` 完成此任务的代码。如果你要返回一个 Set,你会使用 `Collections.emptySet`;如果要返回 Map,则使用 `Collections.emptyMap`。但是请记住,这是一个优化,很少真正需要它。如果你认为你需要它,测试一下前后的表现,确保它确实有帮助:
```
// Optimization - avoids allocating empty collections
public List<Cheese> getCheeses() {
return cheesesInStock.isEmpty() ? Collections.emptyList(): new ArrayList<>(cheesesInStock);
}
```
The situation for arrays is identical to that for collections. Never return null instead of a zero-length array. Normally, you should simply return an array of the correct length, which may be zero. Note that we’re passing a zero-length array into the toArray method to indicate the desired return type, which is Cheese[]:
数组的情况与集合的情况相同。永远不要返回 null,而应该返回零长度的数组。通常,你应该简单地返回一个正确长度的数组,它可能是零长度。注意,我们将一个零长度的数组传递到 toArray 方法中,以指示所需的返回类型,即 Cheese[0]:
```
//The right way to return a possibly empty array
public Cheese[] getCheeses() {
return cheesesInStock.toArray(new Cheese[0]);
}
```
If you believe that allocating zero-length arrays is harming performance, you can return the same zero-length array repeatedly because all zero-length arrays are immutable:
如果你认为分配零长度数组会损害性能,你可以重复返回相同的零长度数组,因为所有的零长度数组都是不可变的:
```
// Optimization - avoids allocating empty arrays
private static final Cheese[] EMPTY_CHEESE_ARRAY = new Cheese[0];
public Cheese[] getCheeses() {
return cheesesInStock.toArray(EMPTY_CHEESE_ARRAY);
}
```
In the optimized version, we pass the same empty array into every toArray call, and this array will be returned from getCheeses whenever cheesesInStock is empty. Do not preallocate the array passed to toArray in hopes of improving performance. Studies have shown that it is counterproductive [Shipilëv16]:
在优化版本中,我们将相同的空数组传递到每个 toArray 调用中,当 cheesesInStock 为空时,这个数组将从 getCheeses 返回。不要为了提高性能而预先分配传递给 toArray 的数组。研究表明,这样做会适得其反 [Shipilev16]:
```
// Don’t do this - preallocating the array harms performance!
return cheesesInStock.toArray(new Cheese[cheesesInStock.size()]);
```
In summary, never return null in place of an empty array or collection. It makes your API more difficult to use and more prone to error, and it has no performance advantages.
总之,永远不要用 null 来代替空数组或集合。它使你的 API 更难以使用,更容易出错,并且没有性能优势。
---
**[Back to contents of the chapter(返回章节目录)](/Chapter-8/Chapter-8-Introduction.md)**
- **Previous Item(上一条目):[Item 53: Use varargs judiciously(明智地使用可变参数)](/Chapter-8/Chapter-8-Item-53-Use-varargs-judiciously.md)**
- **Next Item(下一条目):[Item 55: Return optionals judiciously(明智地的返回 Optional)](/Chapter-8/Chapter-8-Item-55-Return-optionals-judiciously.md)**
- Chapter 2. Creating and Destroying Objects(创建和销毁对象)
- Item 1: Consider static factory methods instead of constructors(考虑以静态工厂方法代替构造函数)
- Item 2: Consider a builder when faced with many constructor parameters(在面对多个构造函数参数时,请考虑构建器)
- Item 3: Enforce the singleton property with a private constructor or an enum type(使用私有构造函数或枚举类型实施单例属性)
- Item 4: Enforce noninstantiability with a private constructor(用私有构造函数实施不可实例化)
- Item 5: Prefer dependency injection to hardwiring resources(依赖注入优于硬连接资源)
- Item 6: Avoid creating unnecessary objects(避免创建不必要的对象)
- Item 7: Eliminate obsolete object references(排除过时的对象引用)
- Item 8: Avoid finalizers and cleaners(避免使用终结器和清除器)
- Item 9: Prefer try with resources to try finally(使用 try-with-resources 优于 try-finally)
- Chapter 3. Methods Common to All Objects(对象的通用方法)
- Item 10: Obey the general contract when overriding equals(覆盖 equals 方法时应遵守的约定)
- Item 11: Always override hashCode when you override equals(当覆盖 equals 方法时,总要覆盖 hashCode 方法)
- Item 12: Always override toString(始终覆盖 toString 方法)
- Item 13: Override clone judiciously(明智地覆盖 clone 方法)
- Item 14: Consider implementing Comparable(考虑实现 Comparable 接口)
- Chapter 4. Classes and Interfaces(类和接口)
- Item 15: Minimize the accessibility of classes and members(尽量减少类和成员的可访问性)
- Item 16: In public classes use accessor methods not public fields(在公共类中,使用访问器方法,而不是公共字段)
- Item 17: Minimize mutability(减少可变性)
- Item 18: Favor composition over inheritance(优先选择复合而不是继承)
- Item 19: Design and document for inheritance or else prohibit it(继承要设计良好并且具有文档,否则禁止使用)
- Item 20: Prefer interfaces to abstract classes(接口优于抽象类)
- Item 21: Design interfaces for posterity(为后代设计接口)
- Item 22: Use interfaces only to define types(接口只用于定义类型)
- Item 23: Prefer class hierarchies to tagged classes(类层次结构优于带标签的类)
- Item 24: Favor static member classes over nonstatic(静态成员类优于非静态成员类)
- Item 25: Limit source files to a single top level class(源文件仅限有单个顶层类)
- Chapter 5. Generics(泛型)
- Item 26: Do not use raw types(不要使用原始类型)
- Item 27: Eliminate unchecked warnings(消除 unchecked 警告)
- Item 28: Prefer lists to arrays(list 优于数组)
- Item 29: Favor generic types(优先使用泛型)
- Item 30: Favor generic methods(优先使用泛型方法)
- Item 31: Use bounded wildcards to increase API flexibility(使用有界通配符增加 API 的灵活性)
- Item 32: Combine generics and varargs judiciously(明智地合用泛型和可变参数)
- Item 33: Consider typesafe heterogeneous containers(考虑类型安全的异构容器)
- Chapter 6. Enums and Annotations(枚举和注解)
- Item 34: Use enums instead of int constants(用枚举类型代替 int 常量)
- Item 35: Use instance fields instead of ordinals(使用实例字段替代序数)
- Item 36: Use EnumSet instead of bit fields(用 EnumSet 替代位字段)
- Item 37: Use EnumMap instead of ordinal indexing(使用 EnumMap 替换序数索引)
- Item 38: Emulate extensible enums with interfaces(使用接口模拟可扩展枚举)
- Item 39: Prefer annotations to naming patterns(注解优于命名模式)
- Item 40: Consistently use the Override annotation(坚持使用 @Override 注解)
- Item 41: Use marker interfaces to define types(使用标记接口定义类型)
- Chapter 7. Lambdas and Streams(λ 表达式和流)
- Item 42: Prefer lambdas to anonymous classes(λ 表达式优于匿名类)
- Item 43: Prefer method references to lambdas(方法引用优于 λ 表达式)
- Item 44: Favor the use of standard functional interfaces(优先使用标准函数式接口)
- Item 45: Use streams judiciously(明智地使用流)
- Item 46: Prefer side effect free functions in streams(在流中使用无副作用的函数)
- Item 47: Prefer Collection to Stream as a return type(优先选择 Collection 而不是流作为返回类型)
- Item 48: Use caution when making streams parallel(谨慎使用并行流)
- Chapter 8. Methods(方法)
- Item 49: Check parameters for validity(检查参数的有效性)
- Item 50: Make defensive copies when needed(在需要时制作防御性副本)
- Item 51: Design method signatures carefully(仔细设计方法签名)
- Item 52: Use overloading judiciously(明智地使用重载)
- Item 53: Use varargs judiciously(明智地使用可变参数)
- Item 54: Return empty collections or arrays, not nulls(返回空集合或数组,而不是 null)
- Item 55: Return optionals judiciously(明智地的返回 Optional)
- Item 56: Write doc comments for all exposed API elements(为所有公开的 API 元素编写文档注释)
- Chapter 9. General Programming(通用程序设计)
- Item 57: Minimize the scope of local variables(将局部变量的作用域最小化)
- Item 58: Prefer for-each loops to traditional for loops(for-each 循环优于传统的 for 循环)
- Item 59: Know and use the libraries(了解并使用库)
- Item 60: Avoid float and double if exact answers are required(若需要精确答案就应避免使用 float 和 double 类型)
- Item 61: Prefer primitive types to boxed primitives(基本数据类型优于包装类)
- Item 62: Avoid strings where other types are more appropriate(其他类型更合适时应避免使用字符串)
- Item 63: Beware the performance of string concatenation(当心字符串连接引起的性能问题)
- Item 64: Refer to objects by their interfaces(通过接口引用对象)
- Item 65: Prefer interfaces to reflection(接口优于反射)
- Item 66: Use native methods judiciously(明智地使用本地方法)
- Item 67: Optimize judiciously(明智地进行优化)
- Item 68: Adhere to generally accepted naming conventions(遵守被广泛认可的命名约定)
- Chapter 10. Exceptions(异常)
- Item 69: Use exceptions only for exceptional conditions(仅在确有异常条件下使用异常)
- Item 70: Use checked exceptions for recoverable conditions and runtime exceptions for programming errors(对可恢复情况使用 checked 异常,对编程错误使用运行时异常)
- Item 71: Avoid unnecessary use of checked exceptions(避免不必要地使用 checked 异常)
- Item 72: Favor the use of standard exceptions(鼓励复用标准异常)
- Item 73: Throw exceptions appropriate to the abstraction(抛出能用抽象解释的异常)
- Item 74: Document all exceptions thrown by each method(为每个方法记录会抛出的所有异常)
- Item 75: Include failure capture information in detail messages(异常详细消息中应包含捕获失败的信息)
- Item 76: Strive for failure atomicity(尽力保证故障原子性)
- Item 77: Don’t ignore exceptions(不要忽略异常)
- Chapter 11. Concurrency(并发)
- Item 78: Synchronize access to shared mutable data(对共享可变数据的同步访问)
- Item 79: Avoid excessive synchronization(避免过度同步)
- Item 80: Prefer executors, tasks, and streams to threads(Executor、task、流优于直接使用线程)
- Item 81: Prefer concurrency utilities to wait and notify(并发实用工具优于 wait 和 notify)
- Item 82: Document thread safety(文档应包含线程安全属性)
- Item 83: Use lazy initialization judiciously(明智地使用延迟初始化)
- Item 84: Don’t depend on the thread scheduler(不要依赖线程调度器)
- Chapter 12. Serialization(序列化)
- Item 85: Prefer alternatives to Java serialization(优先选择 Java 序列化的替代方案)
- Item 86: Implement Serializable with great caution(非常谨慎地实现 Serializable)
- Item 87: Consider using a custom serialized form(考虑使用自定义序列化形式)
- Item 88: Write readObject methods defensively(防御性地编写 readObject 方法)
- Item 89: For instance control, prefer enum types to readResolve(对于实例控制,枚举类型优于 readResolve)
- Item 90: Consider serialization proxies instead of serialized instances(考虑以序列化代理代替序列化实例)